Computer enclosure with locking apparatus

ABSTRACT

A computer enclosure with a locking apparatus includes a front panel ( 10 ), a side panel ( 30 ), a driving member ( 52 ), and a sliding member ( 55 ). The side panel has an engaging portion ( 351 ). The driving member is pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the front panel, and defines an arcuate portion ( 531 ). The sliding member is slidably attached to the front panel. The sliding portion has a stop portion ( 557 ) and a driving pin ( 571 ). When the driving member is rotated, the arcuate urges the driving pin of the sliding member for driving the sliding member to move, thereby the stop portion engaging with the engaging portion of the side panel and preventing the engaging portion from moving away from the front panel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to locking apparatuses, and moreparticularly to a convenient locking apparatus for preventing a computerin a public location from being opened or tampered with.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Previously, a side panel of the computer was typically secured to thecomputer enclosure by retaining screws. In the process of mounting orremoving components in the computer enclosure, it was necessary toremove the individual retaining screws first. However, there were aplurality of screws used in the computer enclosure, and it was laboriousto manipulate the screws frequently. Furthermore, the tiny screws wereeasily lost or dropped in among the components of the computer. If thescrew was not removed carefully, damage to the computer and itscomponents could occur.

A conventional computer is disclosed. A computer casing includes a frameand a pair of side panels secured to the frame. The frame includes abottom panel, a top panel, a front panel, and a rear panel. The frontand rear panels are engaged between the top panel and the bottom panel.A pair of first flanges extends from opposite edges of the bottom panel.A pair of second flanges depends from opposite edges of the top panel.Each first flange defines a plurality of rectangular slots therein. Eachsecond flange defines a plurality of second slots therein. A pair ofhems is formed at top and bottom edges of each side panel. Each hemforms a plurality of hooks for engaging with the slots of the flanges,thereby securing the side panels to the frame to form the completecomputer casing.

However, the conventional side panel of the computers are alwaysassembled to the computer by screws or hooks, so that they do notprovide a great deal of security against theft.

What is needed, therefore, is a convenient locking apparatus in thecomputer for preventing the computer from being opened or tampered with.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A computer enclosure with a locking apparatus includes a front panel, aside panel, a driving member, and a sliding member. The side panel hasan engaging portion. The driving member is pivotable about an axisperpendicular to the front panel, and defines an arcuate portion. Thesliding member is slidably attached to the front panel. The slidingportion has a stop portion and a driving pin. When the driving member isrotated, the arcuate portion urges the driving pin of the sliding memberfor driving the sliding member to move, thereby the stop portionengaging with the engaging portion of the side panel and preventing theengaging portion from moving away from the front panel.

Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment with attached drawings,in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a computer enclosure with alocking apparatus of a preferred embodiment of the present invention,the computer enclosure including a chassis, a front bezel, a lockingapparatus, a front panel, and a side panel;

FIG. 2 is an isometric, partial view of the front panel and the sidepanel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of the locking apparatus of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, isometric view of the locking apparatus and partof the front panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the locking apparatus, front panel, andpart of the side panel of FIG. 1, showing the locking apparatus in anunlocked position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of portion VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5, but viewed from another aspect;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of portion VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 6, but showing the locking apparatus in alocked position;

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 8, but showing the locking apparatus in alocked position; and

FIG. 11 is an assembled, isometric view of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a computer enclosure with a locking apparatus of apreferred embodiment of the present invention includes a front panel 10,a front bezel 20, a side panel 30, a chassis 40 and a locking apparatus50. The front bezel 20 defines a locking hole 22. A locking flange 225is formed in the locking hole 22.

Referring also to FIG. 2, a fixing flange 108 is bent back andperpendicular from one edge of the front panel 10. A pair of fixingclips 1082 is bent perpendicular and in from opposite distal ends of thefixing flange 108. A pair of engaging tongues 1085 is formed in thefixing flange 108. A pair of hollow securing posts 103 protrudes backfrom a middle portion of the front panel 10. Two pairs of positioningtabs 1061, 1063 are formed adjacent the securing posts 103 of the frontpanel 10. A securing bridge 109 is formed outwardly on the front panel10. A through opening 105 is defined between the securing posts 103 andthe fixing flange 108 on the front panel 10. A restricting clip 107 isbent out from a bottom edge of the through opening 105. A pair ofbending flanges 302 is bent in and perpendicular from opposite sides ofthe side panel 30. A securing flange 35 is bent back from a front edgeof the side panel 30. A pair of receiving bridges 355 is formed on thesecuring flange 35 each defining an opening for receiving thecorresponding engaging tongues 1085. An L-shaped engaging portion 351 isformed on the securing flange 35 between the receiving bridges 355 forengaging with the fixing flange 108 of the front panel 10.

Referring also to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the locking apparatus 50 includesan operating portion 51, an engaging board 53, a sliding member 55, anda spring 59. A blocking flange 515 is formed at a front portion of theoperating portion 51. A lock 511 is fitted in the operating portion 51.The lock 511 can be rotated by a key in the operating portion 51. Acube-shaped engaging block 513 is formed on a back distal end of thelock 511. The engaging board 53 is fan shaped. A square engaging opening533 is defined in the engaging board 53 for receiving the engaging block513. A slot 531 is defined adjacent an arcuate edge of the engagingboard 53. The slot 531 is arcuate shaped. A first receiving end 5311 anda second receiving end 5313 are respectively formed at opposite ends ofthe slot 531. A distance between the first receiving end 5311 and theengaging opening 533 is shorter than a distance between the secondreceiving end 5313 and the engaging opening 533. A screw 512 is providedto secure the operation portion 51 to the engaging board 53. Theoperation portion 51 and the engaging board 53 make up a driving member52 for the locking apparatus 50. An L-shaped stop portion 557 is bentback at a distal end of the sliding member 55. Two restricting slots 553are defined in the sliding member 55. Two orienting pins 563 areprovided for attaching the sliding member 55 to the front panel 10. Acircular flange 5632 is formed on each orienting pin 563 for preventingthe sliding member 55 from moving perpendicularly away from the frontpanel 10. A securing bridge 559 is formed on the sliding member 55. Adriving hole 555 is defined between the restricting slots 553 and thestop portion 557 for holding a driving pin 57.

Referring also to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, in assembling the locking apparatus50 to the front panel 10, the driving pin 57 is assembled through thedriving hole 555 from a backside of the sliding member 55. The stopportion 557 of the sliding member 55 is inserted through the throughopening 105 from a front side of the front panel 10. The sliding member55 is slidingly positioned between each pair of positioning tabs 1061,1063. The orienting pins 563 are secured to the corresponding securingposts 103 of the front panel 10 through the corresponding restrictingslots 553. Therefore, the sliding member 55 can slide horizontally onthe front penal 10. The spring 59 is connected to the securing bridge109 of the front panel 10 and the securing bridge 559 of the slidingmember 55. The operating portion 51 is inserted through the locking hole22 of the front bezel 20. The engaging board 53 is secured to theengaging block 513 of the lock 511 by the screw 512.

In assembling the side panel 30 to the front panel 10, the front panel10 is secured to a front side of the chassis 40. Then one side edge ofthe front bezel 20 is pivotally attached to the front panel 10, and anopposite side edge of the front bezel 20 is secured to the front panel10. The driving pin 57 of the sliding member 55 is received in the slot531 of the engaging board 53. The driving pin 57 is positioned in thefirst receiving end 5311 of the slot 531. The spring 59 keeps thesliding member 55 in an original position. The orienting pins 563 abutagainst a left end of the corresponding restricting slots 553. The sidepanel 30 is then slidably attached to the chassis 40. The engagingtongues 1085 are respectively received in the corresponding receivingbridges 355 of the side panel 30. The engaging portion 351 is engagedwith the fixing portion 108 of the front panel 10.

Referring also to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, in locking the side panel 30 tothe front panel 10, the lock 511 is rotated by the key in ananticlockwise direction in the operating portion 51, and the engagingboard 53 is driven by the lock 511 to rotate along the same direction.The driving pin 57 slides along the slot 531 of the engaging board 55.An arcuate shaped side of the slot 531 movingly abuts against thedriving pin 57 of the sliding member 55. Therefore, the driving pin 57drives the sliding member 55 to move towards the side panel 30, and thespring 59 is stretched. When the driving pin 57 reaches the secondreceiving end 5313 of the slot 531, the arcuate edge of the engagingboard 53 abuts against the restricting clip 107, and the orienting pins563 abut against right ends of the corresponding restricting slots 553.The sliding member 55 is stopped in a locked position. The stop portion557 of the sliding member 55 abuts against a backside of the engagingportion 351 and prevents the engaging portion 351 from back and awayfrom the front panel 10. The engaging portion 351 is sandwiched betweenthe stop portion 557 and the fixing portion 108. Finally, the lock 511is locked by the key in this position. Thus, the side panel 30 is lockedto the front panel 10.

In releasing the side panel 30 from the front panel 10, the lock 511 ofthe driving member 52 with engaging board 53 are rotated along clockwisedirection. The driving pin 57 slides out from the second receiving end5313, and slides along the slot 531. The sliding member 55 is moved awayfrom the side panel 30 due to the rebounding of the spring 59, until thedriving pin 57 reaches the first receiving end 5311. Simultaneously, theorienting pins 563 abut against the left ends of the correspondingrestricting slots 553. The driving member 52 is rotated to the originalposition. Thus, the stop portion 557 is moved away from the engagingportion 351 of the side panel 30 as shown in FIG. 8. Then the side panel30 can be slid away from the front panel 10.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoingdescription of a preferred embodiment, together with details of thestructure and function of the preferred embodiment, the disclosure isillustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially inmatters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principlesof the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad generalmeaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

1. A computer enclosure with a locking apparatus, comprising: a frontpanel; a side panel having an engaging portion; a driving memberpivotably attached to the front panel, the driving member having anarcuate portion; and a sliding member slidably attached to the frontpanel, the sliding member having a driving pin and a stop portion,wherein when the driving member is rotated, the arcuate portion urgesthe driving pin of the sliding member for driving the sliding member tomove, thereby the stop portion engaging with the engaging portion of theside panel and preventing the engaging portion from moving away from thefront panel.
 2. The computer enclosure as described in claim 1, whereinthe driving member further comprises an operating portion, and thedriving member is pivotable about the operating portion.
 3. The computerenclosure as described in claim 2, further comprising a front bezelattached to the front panel, wherein the operating portion is accessibleon the front bezel.
 4. The computer enclosure as described in claim 3,wherein the operating portion can be locked when the stop portion isengaged with the engaging portion.
 5. The computer enclosure asdescribed in claim 2, wherein the driving member further comprises anengaging board, and the arcuate portion is an arcuate slot defined inthe engaging portion, the arcuate slot has two opposite receiving ends,and distances from opposite receiving ends of the arcuate portion to theoperating portion are different.
 6. The computer enclosure as describedin claim 1, wherein a resilient element is provided for urging thesliding member back to an original position where the stop portion andthe engaging portion are disengaged.
 7. The computer enclosure asdescribed in claim 1, wherein a fixing portion is formed on the frontpanel, and an engaging portion is formed on the side panel for engagingwith the fixing portion.
 8. The computer enclosure as described in claim7, wherein the fixing portion is a flange perpendicular to the frontpanel, and the engaging portion is generally L-shaped.
 9. A lockingapparatus assembly, comprising: a front panel having a fixing portion; aside panel having an engaging portion; a driving member pivotable aboutan axis perpendicular to the front panel; and a sliding member slidablyattached to the front panel, a stop portion formed on the sliding membercorresponding to the engaging portion, wherein when the driving memberis rotated, the driving member drives the sliding member to move on thefront panel, thereby the stop portion and the fixing portion sandwichingthe engaging portion of the side panel.
 10. The locking apparatusassembly as described in claim 9, wherein the driving member having anarcuate portion, and a driving pin is formed on the sliding member forabutting against the arcuate portion.
 11. The locking apparatus assemblyas described in claim 10, wherein the driving member further comprisesan operating portion, and the driving member is pivotable about theoperating portion.
 12. The locking apparatus assembly as described inclaim 11, wherein two receiving ends are defined in the arcuate portion,and distances from opposite receiving ends of the arcuate portion to theoperating portion are different.
 13. The locking apparatus assembly asdescribed in claim 12, further comprising a front bezel attached to thefront panel, wherein the operating portion is accessible on the frontbezel.
 14. The locking apparatus assembly as described in claim 13wherein the operating portion has a lock fitted therein, and the lock islocked to prevent the driving member from pivoting when the stop portionand the fixing portion sandwich the engaging portion.
 15. The lockingapparatus assembly as described in claim 10, wherein the driving memberfurther comprises an engaging board, and the arcuate portion is anarcuate slot defined in the engaging board.
 16. The locking apparatusassembly as described in claim 9, wherein the fixing portion is bentfrom an edge of the front panel, and the engaging portion is generallyL-shaped.
 17. A computer enclosure, comprising: a first panel includingan engaging portion; a second panel attached to the first panel; asliding member attached to the second panel and slidable along a firstaxis parallel to the second panel, the sliding member including a stopportion engagable with the engaging portion to prevent the second panelfrom moving relative to the first panel; a driving member cooperatingwith the sliding member in a manner that upon being pivoted about asecond axis perpendicular to the second panel, the driving member drivesthe sliding member to slide so that the stop portion is engaged with theengaging portion.
 18. The computer enclosure of claim 17, wherein thedriving member comprises an engaging member defining an arcuate slottherein, the sliding member includes a driving pin slidably received inthe arcuate slot, the arcuate slot has first and second receiving ends,a distance between the first receiving end and the second axis is lessthan a distance between the second receiving end and the second axis sothat when the driving member is pivoted, the driving pin slides in thearcuate slot, thereby driving the sliding member to slide.
 19. Thecomputer enclosure of claim 18, wherein the driving member furthercomprises a lock portion secured to the engaging member for locking thedriving member in a locked position where the stop portion engages withthe engaging portion.
 20. The computer enclosure of claim 17, furthercomprising a spring member connected with the sliding member configuredfor resiliently urging the sliding member toward an unlocked positionwhere the stop portion disengages from the engaging portion.